NORFOLK, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison opened Sun Belt Conference play with a 46-20 win over Old Dominion in the TowneBank Royal Rivalry on Saturday night at S.B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk.

JMU (4-0, 1-0 SBC) took the lead early and never relinquished it, piling up 405 yards of total offense. Defensively, the Dukes registered nine sacks, tying the program’s FBS record, and held the Monarchs (1-3, 0-1 SBC) to -14 rushing yards on the night.

Quarterback Camden Coleman threw four touchdown passes in the win. He went 24-of-42 for 243 yards through the air, helping JMU improve to 4-0 for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.

JMU got points on all nine trips to the red zone as five different players found the end zone.

After JMU was able to get a three-and-out on defense to start the game, the Dukes opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown catch by tight end Cole Keller. It marked the fourth straight game that JMU scored a touchdown on its first offensive possession to begin the season.

The Dukes added on later in the frame when Coleman connected with wide receiver Michael Scott for a 20-yard score, making it 14-0.

In all, Coleman completed his first nine passes of the night and 14 of his first 15.

Down a pair of scores, ODU responded with a four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in just 1:36 to get back in the game. Leon Haughton Jr. hauled in a 23-yard touchdown to cut the Dukes’ advantage to 14-7 with 4:14 to play in the first quarter.

Then, Michael Scott made a big play on the ensuing kickoff, tallying a 72-yard return, which set up more JMU points. Kicker Morgan Suarez made a 28-yard attempt to give the Dukes a 17-7 advantage.

JMU opened the second quarter with more points, as the Dukes orchestrated a 6-play, 60-yard touchdown drive. Wide receiver Jeremiah Harrison brought down a 13-yard score from Coleman to extend the lead to 23-7.

From there, the Dukes forced a Monarch turnover as safety TJ McGill pounced on a fumble, caused by defensive lineman Mason Purham. Three plays later, Coleman tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the first half, an 18-yard connection to wide receiver Corey Scott.

ODU made it a 30-14 game with 4:37 to play before halftime by taking advantage of the Dukes’ lone turnover, as Mauki James scored on a 1-yard plunge into the end zone

In the final moments of the first half, the Monarchs made a 49-yard field goal to cut the JMU lead to 30-17 at the break.

JMU tallied 255 yards of total offense in the first half and recorded six sacks in the opening 30 minutes.

Suarez added three second-half field goals to help the Dukes pull away. He opened the third quarter with a 36-yarder, before making a kick from 27 yards out later on to make it a 33-17 game.

The Wellington, Florida, native capped his night with a 26-yard make with 8:54 to go in the game, his career-high fourth made field goal of the game. Suarez is now 9-for-9 in field goal attempts to begin the 2026 season.

The Dukes found the end zone just once in the second half, a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Seth Cromwell with 2:55 remaining. Still, the visitors outscored ODU, 16-3, after halftime.

Other top performers included running back George Pettaway, who ran for 110 yards on 16 carries, including a long of 35 yards. Wide receiver Braeden Wisloski led the way in the receiving game with a team-high five catches for 49 yards.

Linebacker Nakian Jackson recorded nine tackles to lead the JMU defense, while four different players had multiple sacks on the night.

Additionally, defensive back Jamal Olford had a fourth-quarter interception, the first of his career.

With the win, the Dukes improved to 5-2 all time against Old Dominion. Of note, all five wins over the Monarchs have come in the Sun Belt era. JMU has now won 24 straight games against in-state competition.

JMU has now won its conference opener in 11 of the last 12 seasons and is now 25-9 all time in league lidlifters.

Up next, the Dukes return home to take on Marshall on Saturday, Oct. 3. Kickoff at Bridgeforth Stadium is set for 3:45 p.m., ET, and you can listen to the game on the JMU Radio Network.

— JMU Athletics —